The British Chambers of Commerce’s quarterly economic survey – the UK’s largest private sector survey of business sentiment, and a lead indicator of UK GDP growth – shows little to be cheerful about as growth flatlines and business confidence weakens.

Key findings:

• Percentage of services firms attempting to recruit is at its lowest level for 25 years • Of those services firms recruiting, difficulties rose to a record high • Exports sales and orders are at their lowest level since the EU Referendum in Q2 2016

The results come as all signs suggest that this year’s annual economic growth is set to be the lowest since the financial crisis. The slowdown in exports in the manufacturing sector, and many services firms seemingly giving up trying to hire new staff, should be cause for concern, warns BCC.

Ahead of the UK’s departure from the EU, the leading business organisation urges the government to use this month’s Budget to deliver bold action to boost investment and confidence.

The survey, of 5,600 businesses, has revealed that the percentage of services firms attempting to recruit is at its lowest level for 25 years, and of the firms in the sector that did try and recruit, the percentage experiencing difficulties rose to an all time high, since the survey began in 1989.

Also, in the services sector, the percentage of firms reporting an increase in domestic and export sales and orders eased slightly in the quarter. Meanwhile in the manufacturing sector, the balance of firms reporting an increase in export sales and orders fell to their lowest in two years. The balance of manufacturers expecting their prices to increase also rose, with 81% citing the cost of raw materials as the driver of cost increases, the highest level for seven years.

Uncertainty over future trading conditions is continuing to act as a brake on business investment in both the manufacturing and services sectors. The balance of firms who looked to invest in either plant and machinery or training fell in both sectors to their lowest level in over a year. Business confidence in turnover and profitability also weakened in the quarter.

Commenting on the results, Suren Thiru, BCC Head of Economics, said:

“These results suggest that the current period of below average GDP growth continued into the third quarter of 2018.

“Activity in the services sector slackened in Q3 with the key indicators of domestic and international activity softening in the quarter. That said, the services sector is still likely to have been the main driver of third quarter growth.

“The manufacturing sector remains a weak spot for the UK economy, with export activity slowing sharply in the quarter. Brexit uncertainty and the increasing cost of imported raw materials is weighing on the UK’s external position – further evidence that the persistent weakness in sterling is doing more harm than good. As a consequence, net trade is likely to have contributed precious little to UK GDP growth in Q3.

“The sharp deterioration of the share of firms attempting to recruit is a concern and reflects both persistent hiring difficulties and heightened economic uncertainty – which if sustained could materially weaken jobs growth.

“Against this backdrop, the Bank of England’s recent decision to raise interest rates continues to look like a misstep. With economic conditions subdued and continued Brexit uncertainty, there should be a greater emphasis on providing increased monetary stability alongside a marked fiscal loosening to lift the UK out of its current low growth trajectory.”

Responding to the survey, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“These figures reinforce what we are hearing from businesses up and down the country – the uncertainty over Brexit, and the lack of bold moves to boost business at home, are starting to bite.

“It should be a matter of grave concern to government that sales and orders both at home and abroad are stagnating. Weaker sterling is no longer proving a boon to many of our exporters, while consumer spending is failing to boost the domestic market.

“We have a vibrant and innovative business community that wants to invest and grow, but we are stuck in limbo while Brexit negotiations rumble on.

“The upcoming Budget must deliver radical, decisive action to boost growth and productivity at precisely the moment that the economy needs it most. There has never been a more important time for the government to bolster business investment, competitiveness and productivity, in the face of significant Brexit headwinds.”

On the warning signs from the labour market findings, Marshall added:

“While fewer companies are trying to recruit, those that are hiring they are finding it increasing challenging to fill vacancies. Many firms are deeply invested in developing homegrown skills and talent within their own communities, however this alone is not enough to fill the skills gaps, at all levels, that businesses face right now, and which are set to get worse post-March 2019.

“The results from BCC’s latest survey support our call for government to drop arbitrary migration caps and targets, and work with business to develop an immigration policy that supports a growing economy. We should not be slamming the door on any of the skills we need for our companies to succeed.”

Key findings in the Q3 2018 survey:

Manufacturing sector:

• The balance of firms reporting increased domestic sales rose two points to +24, while those reporting improved domestic orders fell from +22 to +20
• The balance of firms reporting improved export sales fell five points, from +24 to +19, while the balance of those reporting improved export orders fell sharply from +22 to +14 – both indicators are at their lowest level since Q4 2016
• The percentage of firms expecting to raise prices over the next three months rose from 31% to 38%
• The percentage of firms citing the cost of raw materials as the source of cost pressures has risen sharply from 65% to 81%, the highest since Q2 2011
• The percentage of firms attempting to recruit fell from 77% to 67%, Of these, 75% reported recruitment difficulties. The balance of firms increasing investment in plant/machinery and training fell in the quarter to +15 and +17 respectively
• The balance of firms confident that turnover and profitability to increase in the next 12 months fell, from +47 to +44 for turnover and +35 to +29 for profitability

Services sector:

• The balance of firms reporting increased domestic sales fell slightly, from +23 to +22, while those reporting improved domestic orders rose from +15 to +17
• The balance of firms reporting improved export sales fell slightly, from +15 to +14, while those reporting improved export orders held steady at +12
• The balance of firms expecting to raise prices over the next three months was unchanged at +27%
• The percentage of firms looking to recruit fell from 60% to 47%, the lowest since Q1 1993. Of these, 72% reported difficulties – an all time high for the survey
• Cashflow remains a concern, with a balance of just +8 reporting improved cashflow. Thisfalls to +5 among B2C firms
• The balance of firms looking to increase investment in plant and machinery, and training, fell slightly from +8 to +7 in plant and machinery, and from +16 to +14 in training
• The balance of firms confident that turnover to improve over the next year fell slightly, from +40 to +38, while those expecting profitability to improve rose slightly from +29 to +30